Computer network cross-connect panel providing physical layer monitoring and method therefor

• US 6,356,532 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1997
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vigilant Networks, LLC
• Inventors: Swanson, Leslie H., Richardson, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/995,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/248, 370/254, 370/256, 370/351, 370/352, 370/463, 370/466, 370/358, 370/257, 370/252, 702/187, 702/79, 709/224, 709/239, 709/223, 361/796, 324/754, 340/146, 395/200, 379/27, 379/112, 379/442
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/11 using pulse reflection methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/14 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/155 characterised by connection features
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/802 in data transmission systems

Abstract

A cross-connect panel for a computer network is disclosed that provides a mechanism for connecting to the signal transmission media of the network. In the typical scenario, the inventive cross-connect panel replaces the common cross-connect panel that receives the various cables running between the remote nodes and the hub, switch, or other network communications device. The panel has a series of panel-node connectors that are adapted to receive the signal transmission media from the network nodes. The cross-connect panel also has panel-device connectors that in most embodiments will be of a standard type to connect to the network communications device. The panel-node connectors and the panel-device connectors are electrically interconnected to each other via a backplane to complete the communications links. The panel further includes a monitoring port that is also preferably connected to the backplane to provide physical layer access to the communications links. In this way, a network monitoring device interfacing with the port may be connected directly to the network'"'"'s communications links or disconnected when monitoring is not necessary.

Claims

1. A computer network cross-connect panel for providing physical layer monitoring of communications links between a network communication device and remote network nodes, the panel comprising:

a backplane;

panel-node connectors, attached to the backplane, which are adapted to receive signal transmission media from remote network nodes;

panel-device connectors, attached to the backplane, which are adapted to receive signal transmission media from the network communication device, each one of the panel-device connectors being connected to a corresponding one of the panel-node connectors to support one of the communications links between the network communication device and the remote network nodes; and

a monitoring port, attached to the backplane, which provides physical layer access to the communications links via the backplane, to permit generating and sampling of signals on at least one of the communications links to analyze at least one characteristic of the communications links on an operating network.

2. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the network communication device is a hub.

3. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the network communication device is a switch or bridge.

4. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the panel-device connectors receive patch cords that connect to the network communication device.

5. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the panel-device connectors support connections to a plurality of conductors.

6. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the panel-node connectors are arrayed in at least one punch-down channel on the backplane.

7. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the panel-node connectors each comprise a plurality of wire-wrap pins.

8. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the backplane comprises a substrate supporting conductors that electrically connect the panel-node connectors and panel-device connectors.

9. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring port provides taps to every one of the communications links supported by the panel.

10. The cross-connect panel described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring port is adapted to receive a media interface unit.

11. The cross-connect panel described in claim 10, wherein media interface unit simultaneously connects to tap each one of the communications links.

12. The cross-connect panel described in claim 11, further comprising a digitizer for digitally sampling signals on the communications links via the media interface unit.

26. The cross-connect panel described in claim 9, wherein the monitoring port is physically connected to a predetermined pin group.

28. The cross-connect panel as described in claim 26, wherein at least one of a receiver and driver is connected to the monitoring port.

29. The cross-connect panel as described in claim 9, wherein the taps match the characteristic impedance of the links.

30. A cross connect panel described in claim 1, wherein said generating and sampling of signals to analyze at least one characteristic of at least one communication link occurs simultaneously on all communications links.

13. A method for monitoring communications links in a computer network including a cross-connect panel that interconnects network devices, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring port on the cross-connect panel;

linking the monitoring port to each of said communications links at a physical layer corresponding to the communications media of the communications links; and

selectively analyzing at least one characteristic of at least one of the communications links via the monitoring port, by generating and sampling signals on the communications links on an operating network.

14. The method described in claim 13, wherein the network devices include a hub.

15. The method described in claim 13, wherein the network devices include a switch or bridge.

16. The method described in claim 13, further comprising connecting the panel to a network communication device via patch cords that connect to panel-device connectors of the panel.

17. The method described in claim 15, further comprising connecting the panel to nodes via panel-node connectors.

18. The method described in claim 16, further comprising interconnecting the panel-node connectors and the panel-device connectors via a backplane.

19. The method described in claim 16, further comprising connecting the monitoring port to conductor paths between panel-node connectors and the panel-device connectors.

20. The method described in claim 13, further comprising connecting a digitizer to the monitoring port to digitally sample communications on the communications media of the communications links.

21. The method described in claim 13, further comprising connecting a function generator to the monitoring port that performs said generating of said signals.

23. The cross-connect panel described in claim 21, further comprising a digitizer that performs said sampling of said signals.

31. The cross-connect panel described in claim 21, wherein said generating and sampling of signals to analyze at least one characteristic of at least one communication link occurs simultaneously on all communications links.

22. A computer network cross-connect panel for providing physical layer monitoring of communications links between a network communication device and remote network nodes, the panel comprising:

a backplane;

wire connectors, attached to the backplane and arrayed in at least one punchdown channel, which are adapted to receive wire signal transmission media from remote network nodes;

panel device RJ-45 connectors, attached to the backplane, which are adapted to receive signal transmission media from the network communication device, each one of the panel device connectors being connected to corresponding wire connectors to support one of the communications links between the network communication device and the remote network nodes; and

a monitoring port, attached to the backplane, which provides physical layer access for a media interface unit to the communications links via the backplane, to permit generating and sampling of signals on at least one of the communications links to analyze at least one characteristic of the communications links on an operating network.

25. The method described in claim 22, further comprising performing time domain reflectometry on the links via the monitoring port.

27. The cross-connect panel described in claim 25, wherein the taps extend from each of a plurality of wire wrap pins comprising the pin group to a corresponding connector path of the monitoring port.

24. A method for monitoring communications links in a computer network including a cross-connect panel that interconnects network devices, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring port on the cross-connect panel providing signal taps to a physical layer of communications media of the communications links;

generating on the communications links via the monitoring port a signal with a function generator;

sampling the signal on the communications links via the monitoring port with a digitizer; and

analyzing the signal to evaluate at least one characteristic of the communications links.